Astroworld: Judge Roy Hofheinz & Harper Goff
Astroworld opened in 1968. Judge Roy Hofheinz was the larger-than-life personality in the Houston area who built the Astrodome, Astroworld Hotel, then opened his personal playground on fifty-six acres along Interstate Loop 610, across from the main Astrodomain complex.
Disney fans will be familiar with Harper Goff, artist and fellow steam train buff with Walt. Harper designed the Nautilus for the movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Adventureland and the Jungle Cruise, and so on. Hofheinz hired him to help with concept and design for Astroworld, but also for some interesting personal projects. The Judge built some of the most lavish and garishly themed suites in his hotel, where his family lived much of the time. But Harper also helped design a personal railcar, originally intended to be pulled around the park while entertaining VIPs. Harper recalled that every little detail had to be the very best available for his Astrodoma. Nothing less would serve.
Shortly after all this, Hofheinz’s world began to crumble around him. Too much debt, a deteriorating economy, and a massive heart attack that left him wheelchair-bound signaled the end. The park was sold to Six Flags, he lost his Astrodomain empire, and many decades later the little, magnificent Astrodoma was uncovered behind a wall where it had been forgotten, gathering dust for forty-two years.
The book tells a bit more of the Judge’s saga, but for the ultimate story pick up a copy of The Grand Huckster: Houston’s Judge Roy Hofheinz, Genius of the Astrodome. Like most of the regional theme parks of the time, it took someone like the Judge who operated on a level or two beyond everyone else to get something of this magnitude built. Thank you, Judge.
Check out my digitized opening season map of the park.
